What does English sound like?

[Steelfists]

Because I always follow up.

This is what English sounds like.

What you have before you is a roughly three minute compilation of English-sounding gibberish, written and performed by non-english speakers working solely on their impression of the language. All the English speakers in the room (I'm assuming ... everyone. Actually) should be able to recognize the sound and maybe even pick out words; but there are no words to be picked out. It is top of the line, 100% gibberish. Enjoy.

The first part's Spanish, I think, but ignore that.

WHAT THE AIDS!?!?

Is guy trying to sound like the Beatles?

 

[Sonicron]

*snip*

Of course it's in reality the same language. But if you were to put two people from these respective areas next to each other and had them have a conversation, they would only understand every other word.

Correct. I never claimed this not to be true, and I never will. I've seen an old Saxon trying to communicate with an old Frisian, and it was hilarious. xD
Goes to show how accents and dialects can prove just as big a communicational barrier as actual labguages.

 

[SmartIdiot]

Depends what country and region your from.

For example English in Britain as we know it is pretty much unintelligible to the rest of the world and even people in Britain because each region has a different dialect i.e Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, East London to name the most obvious differences. Those places are roughly within about 200-400 miles of each other, which isn't that far let's face it, yet the slang words and inflections from each place differ greatly. Now take this and apply it to another (bigger) English speaking country : America. I would imagine there's a smilar thing going on.

So what does English sound like? Not the Queen anymore that's for sure.

 

[Skeleon]

Because I always follow up.

This is what English sounds like.

What you have before you is a roughly three minute compilation of English-sounding gibberish, written and performed by non-english speakers working solely on their impression of the language. All the English speakers in the room (I'm assuming ... everyone. Actually) should be able to recognize the sound and maybe even pick out words; but there are no words to be picked out. It is top of the line, 100% gibberish. Enjoy.

The first part's Spanish, I think, but ignore that.

WHAT THE AIDS!?!?

Is guy trying to sound like the Beatles?

That's actually a very good approximation!
That sounds like mumbled English.
Like, I'd just have to listen a bit closer or turn the volume up a wee bit to understand the actual words.

 

[cartzo]

i've often wondered about this, could never find answer though.

nope still nothing.

 

[Sgt Doom]

Dunno tbh, but i've noticed mainland Europeans, French people in particular, have a habit of overemphasising vowels when they speak English.
And this little picture demonstrates how my other half (Finnish) tends to speak English. (might not make sense, I suppose you have to hear it to understand it)

[http://filesmelt.com/]

"Sauna
Translation: 'STEAM BATH'
No matter how much dirt you take in life
you lose all in this place, drunk or sober.
No charge for showers or soap.
Remember This..... you can't take it with you"

 

[PimpinAngel]

If you really want to know, listen to any song by the band "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah." It took me like a year for me to understand what they were singing (yes they are singing in english).

 

[Shadowfaze]

English is a marvellous language. if you want to talk upper class, try saying "Oh hello" like this: Air, hair lair!

it works. hehehe

 

[Just Joe]

Depends what country and region your from.

For example English in Britain as we know it is pretty much unintelligible to the rest of the world and even people in Britain because each region has a different dialect i.e Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, East London to name the most obvious differences. Those places are roughly within about 200-400 miles of each other, which isn't that far let's face it, yet the slang words and inflections from each place differ greatly. Now take this and apply it to another (bigger) English speaking country : America. I would imagine there's a smilar thing going on.

So what does English sound like? Not the Queen anymore that's for sure.

I disagree. There's a lot of variation even within countries, but so far as I can tell the variation is getting weaker over time. It's all the internet's fault. Somehow.

 

[Poopie McGhee]

Even Canadians sound different (to me, as I'm American)... English is quite the odd little bugger...

 

[Necrofudge]

I suppose only someone who has never heard the English language to answer that.

 

[Goodluf]

*snip*

Huh, I have never seen someone describe "sauna" as a steam bath, interesting. I suppose it's a way to say it in english, rather than pronounce the word "sauna" in a...english way or something...But anyway, I have heard British or American people say that Finnish people pronounce english in a funny way...I really don't have a word to describe what it sounds to them.

I tend to pronounce every word quite clearly, but that makes my speech sound strange, as it is supposed to flow, you know, fluently. Maybe it's just the lack of practise. I can write English well, but speaking it is quite different. Also, I tend to have difficulties in understanding if someone, whose primary language isn't English, talks to me, especially with thick accents. Although sometimes if someone talks English quite fast, I can't understand that either.

So, to me, the way English sounds depends on what accent people have, as in what country they come from. If someone talk in English to me, I usually understand what they are saying, but I understand it as a whole, I don't translate single words.

Other people here have described other languages quite well, so I won't bother writing about them.